The Israeli air strikes have damaged Iran's nuclear program, but are unlikely to have eliminated it completely, reports Bloomberg.
As IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reported at a meeting of the UN Security Council, the above-ground part of the uranium enrichment plant in Natanz has been damaged. However, the underground halls where the enrichment actually takes place were not damaged. In addition, Israel also attacked other facilities - in Isfahan and Fordow.
According to Bloomberg, the attack on Isfahan is particularly significant, since this is the only facility in Iran for converting uranium into raw material for centrifuges. The loss of this infrastructure could freeze the production of new enriched uranium, limiting Iran's ability to expand its nuclear capacity.
Experts also note that a series of attacks, including the assassination of nine top nuclear scientists, could make it difficult to restore the program to its previous level. However, the attack will not stop Iran's nuclear development, but may only make it more difficult for international inspectors to track it. According to some analysts, there is a risk that some of the enriched uranium could be hidden and used in classified programs.
In addition, analysts warn that the escalation could lead to restrictions on access to the facilities by IAEA experts and the failure of diplomatic negotiations. The next round of US-Iran talks was due to begin on Sunday, but their holding is now in doubt.
On the night of June 13, Israel began carrying out strikes on Iran, with the stated aim of disrupting Tehran's nuclear and missile programs. In response, the Islamic Republic fired several waves of missiles at the Jewish state on the evening of June 13 and into the night of June 14.